Pilfer-proof storage rack and containers



Jan. 25, 1966 R. E. SHAW 3,231,322

I PILFER-PROOF STORAGE RACK AND CONTAINERS Filed July 10, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ilil i I 4A RALPH E. SHAW IN VEN TOR.

,211 N Ii 5W Jan. 25, 1966 R. E. SHAW 2 L PILFER-PROOF STORAGE RACK AND CONTAINERS Filed July 10, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 RALPH E. SHAW INVENTOR.

ATT'Y United States Patent 3,231,322 PlLFER-PROOF STORAGE RACK AND CONTAINERS Ralph E. Shaw, Box 370, Portland, Oreg. 97297 Filed July 19, 1964, Ser. No. 381,810 6 Claims. (Cl. 312213) This invention relates to improvements in pilfer-proof storage racks and interlocking storage containers of a type especially adapted for use in school locker rooms, gymnasiums, workmens check rooms or other such places of assembly for the secure storage of clothing, tools, equipment or anything of .a valuable nature. The containers are in the nature of wire baskets whose contents are visible at all times by inspectors or supervisors to thus discourage attempted concealment of stolen articles.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a combination of the character described including means to attach and release the baskets relative to locking means incorporated in the rack to prevent the opening and closing thereof by unauthorized persons and with safety from acts of vandalism or prowlers.

Another object resides in the new and novel shelf construction incorporating uninterrupted channel sections along the sides and across the front and rear ends thereof, and enclosing the top rim portions of each basket to prevent access to its interior when the basket is in a locked position.

Another object is the provision of a rack of the character described wherein means are provided for normally supporting the baskets in an elevated position relative to the shelves to provide an air pad for the free circulation of air through the rack and the contents of the baskets mounted on the shelves.

A further object resides in the structural features of the rack and shelves which enables a unitary rack to be made in any desired width with corresponding shelving to accommodate baskets arranged in tiers and wherein dividers, also of channel section, are provided to cooperate with the outside channel sections in enclosing the rims of adjacent baskets whereby the side-by-side baskets on each shelf are protected in the same manner as the individual baskets against access to their interior when they are in a locked position.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a rack and storage baskets supported therein in accordance with one form of my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of a typical basket mounted upon one shelf of the rack (shown fragmentarily) and in engagement at its top rim with a superjacent shelf.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of FIGURE 2 with fragments broken away for convenience of illustration.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view on an enlarged scale taken approximately along the line 44 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary detail view on an enlarged scale of a modified form of basket-locking means associated with the shelf members.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary elevational view taken approximately along the line 66 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of typical channel-like sections depending from the shelves shown in FIGURES 8 and 9.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective view on an enlarged scale showing a rack of double width to accommodate two baskets arranged side-by-side, and

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary perspective view on an' enlarged scale taken approximately along the line 99 of FIGURE 8.

With continuing reference to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like parts and particularly FIGURE 1 thereof, reference numeral 1 indicates generally an individual rack or locker unit which is typical of any number of them which may be arranged sideby-side and interlocked, if desired, along the wall of a room or elsewhere.

The rack, in FIGURE 1, comprises two identical front corner posts 2 and 3 of angle section and two identical rear corner posts 4 and 5 of similar section. The posts may be of any desired height to accommodate shelving for the number of containers or wire baskets to be stacked therein as shown.

Since all of the shelves of FIGURE 1 are identical, a description of one will suflice for all, and as illustrated in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, each shelf 8 comprises a sheet of metal flanged downwardly and inwardly as at 10 and 10A along both of its sides with its top having any desired number of ventilating louvers 11 struck upwardly or downwardly therefrom, as desired, in a well-known conventional manner. Similarly formed in the sheet 8 is a riser or cam element 12 for a purpose to be more fully hereinafter described. The rearward end of each shelf is flanged downwardly and inwardly as at 13 and 13A and welded to the rear corner posts 4 and 5. The forward end of the shelf is similarly flanged as at 14 and 14A and welded to the front corner posts 2 and 3.

The top 15 of each rack is provided with louvers 11A formed in the same manner as the louvers 11 in the shelves 8. For economy in production the top 15 could be produced by the same forming and punching dies used to form the shelves 8. In so doing, of course, the top would be provided with the struck up cam 12 which would serve as an additional ventilating louver instead of its intended purpose in the shelves.

The downwardly extending front flange 14 of each shelf 8 is provided with an elongated slot 16 (see FIGURES 1, 3 and 4) to receive a forwardly projecting loop or ring 18 integrated with the top wire rim 20 of its respective basket and adapted for locked engagement with the shelf as will be more fully hereinafter described.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the basket 21 is normally supported within the rack by its bottom surface resting upon the riser 12 of its respective bottom shelf with the loop 18 at the forward end of the top rim of the basket extending through and supported Within the slot 16 in the flange 14 of an upper or superjacent shelf 8. To position the basket in this manner it is merely necessary to slide it inwardly or rearwardly over the riser 12 to thus elevate the rearward end of the basket. Then upon lifting the forward end of the basket until its top rim engages the underside of the upper shelf 8 the loop 18 will be in alignment with the slot 16 in the shelf flange 14 for guidance therethrough when the basket is pulled forward. The now extended loop is in position to receive a lock as indicated at L in FIGURES 5 and 6. The bottom wall or surface of the basket being made up of forwardly and rearwardly extending wires or rods is not obstructed in its inward movement by the louvers 12 since the rods will slide smoothly over the louvers as Well as the riser 12.

A rearward push on the basket from this lockable position will disengage the loop from the slot 16 to thus allow the front end of the basket to drop down onto the bottom shelf 8 from which it may be conveniently withdrawn in its entirety from the rack.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in the FIGURES 5 and 6, the basket 21, its top rim 20 and loop 18 are identical with those shown in the first form of the invention. But I dispense with the slot 16 in the front flange 14 of the shelf 8 and instead provide a cross member 17 welded to the underside of the shelf 8A and to a flange 14A extending downwardly therefrom, as shown. The cross member 17 is extended forwardly as shown where it is provided with an opening 17A to receive the hasp of the lock L shown in broken lines. Here as in the first form of the invention the basket is manipulated as aforesaid in inserting and withdrawing it from its supporting shelf into and out of position for locking engagement with the cross member 17.

In the further modification shown in FIGURES 7, 8

and 9, the rearward end of the shelf 8B is flanged downwardly and inwardly as at 138 and 13C as in the other form of the invention, and its forward end is flanged only downwardly as at 14B and welded thereacross to an inwardly open channel section 30 which is provided with a slot 16B to receive the loop or ring 18B extending forwardly from the top rim 20B of the basket 21B. Welded to the underside of the shelf 8B along both sides thereof are inwardly opening channel sections 31. This reinforced structure provides greater strength than the assembly of its counterparts in the first form of the invention.

The FIGURE 8 disclosure is illustrative of the fact that the shelves may be of any desired width to accommodate any number of baskets arranged side-by-side in tiers, and welded at their four corners to posts 2B, 3B, 4B and 5B respectively. The front, rear and outside edges of each shelf may be flanged downwardly and inwardly as in the first form of the invention or provided with side channels and a forward channel section 31. Each shelf is made of a single sheet of metal to overlie two or more baskets supported side-by-side on a subjacent shelf and, to prevent access to the interior of the baskets I provide an I-section welded as its forward and readward ends to the front and rear flanges of the shelf and to the underside thereof if desired.

While I have shown particular forms of embodiment of my invention, I am aware that many minor changes therein will readily suggest themselves to others skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A pilfer-proof rack comprising four corner posts,

a plurality of vertically spaced apart horizontal shelves,

means securing said shelves to said corner posts,

a top cover for said rack,

each of said shelves having at least one ventilating opening therein and a riser at the rearward end thereof, each of said shelves having downwardly extending side and rear flanges,

identical wire baskets each slidable rearwardly and inwardly upon said shelves whereby the rearward end of each basket will be elevated by the riser of a subjacent shelf,

the forward top rim of each basket having a centrally disposed forwardly extending horizontal loop,

means integrated with the forward edge of each shelf having an opening therein registerable with the loop of its respective subjacent basket to prevent access to the interior of the basket when locking means is inserted through said loop.

2. A pilfer-proof rack comprising four corner posts,

a plurality of vertically spaced apart horizontal shelves,

means securing said shelves to said corner posts,

a top cover for said rack,

each of said shelves having at least one ventilating opening therein and a riser at the rearward end thereof, each of said shelves having downwardly extending front,

rear and side flanges of channel-like sections,

each of said front sections having an opening therein,

identical wire baskets each slidable rearwardly, in-

wardly upon said shelves whereby the rearward end of each basket will be elevated by the riser of a subjacent shelf,

the forward top rim of each basket having a centrally disposed forwardly extending horizontal loop,

whereby elevating the forward end of the basket will align its said loop with said opening in the front channel-like section of a superjacent shelf for insertion therethrough to receive a lock,

and whereby said channel-like sections surrounding the top rim of the baskets will prevent access to the interior of the baskets when the same are in said elevated and locked positions.

3. A pilfer-proof rack comprising vertical front and rear corner posts,

inwardly opening channel-like sections secured to said standards,

vertically spaced apart shelves integrated with said channel sections between said standards,

said shelves having at least one vertical riser at the rearward end thereof,

box-like containers adapted to be placed on said shelves,

certain of said channel sections having a slotted opening therein,

the forward end of each container having a loop extending forward relative thereto and adapted for insertion through the slot in a superjacent channel section when the rearward end of the container is elevated by and reposing upon the riser of a subjacent shelf,

whereby the interior of the container is rendered inaccessible by said channel sections surreunding the top rim of the container and by said superjacent shelf directly thereabove.

4. A pilfer-proof rack comprising four corner posts,

a plurality of vertically spaced apart horizontal shelves,

means securing said shelves to said corner posts,

a top cover for said rack,

each of said shelves having ventilating openings therein and a riser element at the rearward end thereof,

each of said shelves flanged downwardly and inwardly at its rearward end and downwardly only at its forward end,

a channel section secured to the underside of said shelf at the forward end thereof and to said downward extending flanges,

inwardly opening side channel sections secured to the underside of each shelf substantially throughout the length thereof,

each of said downward channel sections having a slotted opening therethrough,

identical Wire baskets removably mounted upon said shelves,

the forward top rim of each basket having a centrally disposed horizontal loop adapted to be extended through the opening in said front channel section and thereby adapted for engagement with a lock,

whereby placing a basket upon the shelf and moving it rearwardly the rear end of the basket in riding over said riser will be elevated and so held,

whereby lifting the forward end of the basket will align said loop with said slotted opening for advancement therethrough upon pulling the basket forward,

and whereby the interior of the basket will be protected by the shelf and its front, rear, and side rim portions will be protected by said front, rear, and side channel sections to prevent access to the interior of the basket when the same is so elevated in a locked position.

5. A pilfer-proof rack comprising four corner posts,

a plurality of vertically spaced apart horizontal shelves adapted for having a plurality of baskets placed and arranged side-by-side,

the front, rear, and sides of each shelf terminating in inwardly opening channel sections,

an I-section extending from the front to the rear of each shelf defining storage space for each of said baskets,

each shelf having a riser near its rearward end,

the channel section at the forward end of each shelf having a series of horizontal openings therein,

lock engaging means integrated with the forward end of each basket and adapted for insertion through said openings upon elevating the forward end of the hasket in alignment therewith,

whereby each basket when so elevated and held in a locked position its top rim will be within the confines of the said channel and I-sections to thus protect the interior of each basket against access by unauthorized persons.

6. A pilfer-proof rack comprising four corner posts,

a plurality of vertically spaced apart horizontal shelves,

means securing said shelves to said corner posts,

a top cover for said rack,

each of said shelves having at least one ventilating opening therein and a riser at the rearward end thereof,

each of said shelves having downwardly extending rear and side flanges of channel-like sections, and a downwardly extending front flange,

identical wire baskets each slidable rearwardly, inwardly upon said shelves whereby the rearward end of each basket will be elevated by the riser of a subjacent shelf,

the forward top rim of each basket having a centrally disposed forwardly extending horizontal loop,

a crossmember secured to said front flange and apertured to receive locking means extending therethrough and through said loop of its respective subjacent basket,

whereby elevating the forward end of the basket and engaging its loop with said crossmember will position the loop for attachment to a locking means.

No references cited.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PILFER-PROOF RACK COMPRISING FOUR CORNER POSTS, A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY SPACED APART HORIZONTAL SHELVES, MEANS SECURING SAID SHELVES TO SAID CORNER POSTS, A TOP COVER FOR SAID RACK, EACH OF SAID SHELVES HAVING AT LEAST ONE VENTILATING OPENING THEREIN AND A RISER AT THE REARWARD END THEREOF, EACH OF SAID SHELVES HAVING DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING SIDE AND REAR FLANGES, IDENTICAL WIRE BASKETS EACH SLIDABLE REARWARDLY AND INWARDLY UPON SAID SHELVES WHEREBY THE REARWARD END OF EACH BASKET WILL BE ELEVATE BY THE RISER OF A SUBJACENT SHELF, THE FORWARD TOP RIM OF EACH BASKET HAVING A CENTRALLY DISPOSED FORWARDLY EXTENDING HORIZONTAL LOOP, MEANS INTEGRATED WITH THE FORWARD EDGE OF EACH SHELF HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN REGISTERABLE WITH THE LOOP OF ITS RESPECTIVE SUBJACENT BASKET TO PREVENT ACCESS TO THE INTERIOR OF THE BASKET WHEN LOCKING MEANS IS IN SERTED THROUGH SAID LOOP. 